sounds like a great convention...you will have to tell use more about these 8 points and how they plan to "get ahead of the curve." It is amazing that USBC is really trying to improve the sport. Let us know more!
4/22/2006
USBC CEO Roger Dalkin talks to the delegates about changes that must be made in bowling. Dramatic philosophic changes are needed in the United States Bowling Congress and bowling overall to give the sport a chance to grow. That was the message delivered loud and clear Friday by leaders of the organization during the first day of the USBC Annual Meeting at the Orange County Convention Center.
President Michael Carroll, Strategic Planning Chair Darlene Baker and Chief Executive Officer Roger Dalkin all focused on the future. And if the nearly 1,700 in attendance truly were listening, they should have a clear picture of USBC's goals and expectations for the next several years.
"Our board's goal is to make USBC a successful organization and folks that takes commitment not only in actions by our board, but a financial commitment from our membership and those who want to be part of a vibrant organization," said Carroll. "USBC, in order to be prosperous and grow the sport for bowlers, needs that financial leverage to investigate, study and put in place programs and services that have significant meaning to membership and engages recognition in the sporting world not only of today, but tomorrow."
The key to that success as noted by Carroll, Baker and Dalkin is the approval of a futuristic business philosophy called the "USBC Business Plan for 2010 and Beyond." The plan revolves around USBC's priority issues relating to youth development, increasing visibility of the sport, redefining the association network and insuring credibility for the game of bowling. USBC also will continue to change the role and mindset of association volunteers to a blend of the past with a new focus on developing more partnerships with proprietors.
"USBC's future success will be determined in large part by how well the organization can get and keep young bowlers, motivate them to seek coaching, encourage them to join leagues and continually seek challenges that will make them better bowlers," Carroll said. "One way we will do this is to emphasize to young bowlers and the general public alike that bowling truly is a sport."
Baker noted the strategic planning process had determined that USBC's status as a national governing body makes its focus different than if it was strictly a membership organization.
"As the NGB, we are responsible for the future of the sport as well as the members," she said. "The strategic plan is built with both components which are identified by the priority issues."
Dalkin later elaborated on why and how USBC should help lead this effort.
"USBC is focused to give us the best chance to attract people and grow the sport," said Dalkin. "The merger provided us an opportunity to reflect and change."
Dalkin cited eight ways for change in the form of old philosophies of the former American Bowling Congress, Women's International Bowling Congress, Young American Bowling Alliance and USA Bowling and new philosophies under USBC: Old philosophy 1 - The value of dues revolves around individual benefits. The former organizations charged only enough in dues to cover the costs of what was given back to the members.
New philosophy 1 - Stop apologizing for the dues and promote the intangible activities of our organization. This means charging enough to not only cover member benefits but also extra money to fund programs to help grow the sport.
Old philosophy 2 - Awards are the primary benefit of membership and the bowler expects to be rewarded. We are the only sport that has to reward or give something to the bowlers for what they do in competition.
New philosophy 2 - Recognition (not rewards) is no more important than coaching, sportsmanship and a passion for the sport and the competition. Kids today just want someone to tell them they did a great job.
Old philosophy 3 - Bowling is a sport but we don't want to follow the rules of being recognized as a sport. A number of current and former rules are not compliant with national collegiate and some state high school associations.
New philosophy 3 - Bowling is a sport and we will comply with the rules associated with that status. These include modifying the USBC recognition program for youth to comply with high school and college eligibility rules.
Old philosophy 4 - Everyone must compete at the highest level of credibility for the sport to be credible.
New philosophy 4 - Multiple levels of the sport don't diminish credibility. They only define the type of competition. It is okay to have different levels such as sport, standard and bumper bowling.
Old philosophy 5 - Volunteers can and should do it all. Requiring associations to do 12 things right no longer makes sense.
New philosophy 5 - Providing service to our members involves flexibility in the pipeline including the proprietors. Associations can concentrate on what they do best - processing membership, collecting dues money and conducting tournaments. Proprietors can play a key part of delivering services to the members.
Old philosophy 6 - Rules and bylaws need to be reviewed annually.
New philosophy 6 - Rules and bylaws should be decided on a two- to four-year cycle. If this happens, regional seminars and/or Bowl Expo could provide opportunities in the off years.
Old philosophy 7 - Proprietors are out for themselves and don't want to help USBC.
New philosophy 7 - If USBC is relevant to the business of bowling, proprietors will be supportive.
Old philosophy 8 - USBC (ABC, WIBC, YABA) caused the drop in bowling and now is responsible to fix it.
New philosophy 8 - USBC is an integral part of the fabric of bowling but changes in bowling will require a collaborative effort.
"Can I guarantee these eight changes will grow us, no," Dalkin said. "But it puts us in a position to succeed. Our organization is ready to change. Bowling has a large future and you are on the cusp of this."Gumbel talks about having winning attitudeKeynote speaker Greg Gumbel had the house roaring in laughter for much of his 45-minute speech with humorous quotes from athletes, broadcasters and coaches, a video of athletes grunting and screaming at the 1996 Olympics and stories of how he often is confused with his brother, former Today Show host Bryant Gumbel. The CBS-TV sportscaster also showed a video from that same Olympics in Atlanta displaying the emotion of competing in those Games, emotion that helped the tone for his final point.
"We can learn from the Olympics," he said. "The Olympic spirit - what does it mean and what does it have to do with our folks? It has everything to do with all of us. It's the attitude. Is winning important? Sure it is. But the most important thing is heart. Compete and do the best you can do."
Citing numerous athletes who have overcome obstacles to compete, Gumbel said that attitude, heart and courage are the keys to success.
"I believe sports does a great job of preparing people for life," he said.
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